ECRI Institute’s Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for 2019 names diagnostic errors and improper management of test results in electronic health records (EHRs) among the most serious patient safety challenges facing healthcare leaders.
Other items address systemic issues facing health systems, such as behavioral health concerns, clinician burnout, and skills development. Mobile health technology, number four on the list, opens up a world of opportunities by transporting healthcare to the home, but also presents potential risks.
The report also highlights ongoing clinical issues with infections from peripheral IV lines, sepsis, and anti-microbial stewardship. In the outpatient setting, at least 30% of antibiotic use is unnecessary.
ECRI’s list of patient safety concerns does not necessarily represent the issues that occur most frequently or are most severe. It identifies new risks, how existing concerns may be changing because of new technology or care delivery models, and persistent issues that need renewed attention or that might have additional solutions.
Read more:
- 2019 Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for 2019. ECRI Institute. March 2019